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Modern Technology Drives India’s Railway Ticket and Reservation System

Posted by :SmithPosted date : January 8, 2015In Tourism GuideComments Off on Modern Technology Drives India’s Railway Ticket and Reservation System

Indian Railways

The Indian railway is one of the busiest and largest rail systems in the world. 7 billion tons of freight and 6 billion passengers are transported on the network annually. This makes for a busy schedule and careful planning and organization is required in coordinating the efficient movement of trains and passengers.

Online Ticket Booking System

An online booking facility has been availed by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). This enables customers to make bookings online using net banking accounts as well as debit or credit cards. It has reduced the crowding in booking halls at railway stations countrywide.

How to Make a Reservation at the IRCTC Online Ticket Booking Site

In order for you to make an online booking, you have to go to the new user registration page. Here, you will provide your personal details in order to create a user account. While registering, you are given several options including SBI Railway Credit Card and Subh Yatra as well as preferred payment option for SMS-based booking. There is also the option of mobile railway ticket booking and suburban season ticket booking.

Ticket Options

You can sign in to your account and make a ticket booking. You are able to select your ticket type, class (sleeper/second sitting/Ac Chair Car/AC 3 tier/AC 2 tier/First Class/First Class AC), destination code or station name, source and travel date. Every details that is required can be input online using the booking and reservations module.

Ticket Types

There are two types of tickets available on the online booking system:

You can choose an e-ticket that can be booked and updated until the time of chart preparation for your train. In order to secure an e-ticket you are required to provide personal details using a Driving License, Central/State Govt. ID Card, Ration Card, Passport, Voter’s ID Card or PAN Card. Once you have made a booking, all you need to do is get a print out of the Electronic Reservation Slip and retain it as you travel in addition to your proof of identity. While travelling you must carry the e-ticket at all times otherwise you risk being fined Rs. 50 in case of loss or misplacement of the same. You can only cancel e-tickets through the internet. Cancellation will be confirmed online and the money will be credited to the same bank account that you used to make the payment in the first place. Confirmation of cancellation will be done online and the money will be returned to the passenger’s account.

The i-ticket on the other hand, is the same as the traditional ticket as it is delivered to your doorstep within 2 to 3 days. You are required to make a booking in order to use such a ticket at least 48 hours in advance. This type of ticket is normally issued for RAC, Confirmed and Waiting List cases.

Payment Options

There are different payment options available. These are:

Credit cards like American Express, ICICI Bank Cards, Diners Club and Citibank. Agent booking can be done through Amex, Master and Visa cards.

Direct Debit Facility that is available at Karnataka Bank, Andhra Bank, State Bank of Travancore, Union Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, Corporation Bank, Federal Bank, ABN-AMRO, Punjab National Bank, Centurion Bank of Punjab, State Bank of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Bank of Punjab and Citibank to mention but a few.

Current Passenger Status

The PNR Status stands for Passenger Name Record. It is a unique 10-digit status assigned to each railway reservation and is located on the left-hand corner of the railway ticket. If the passenger is looking to know the current PNR status of a railway reservation, the PNR status must be quoted. It can change various times before the final chart is prepared.

The PNR status is automatically generated once the passenger has provided personal information like telephone contact, date of journey, class of travel, gender, berth preference, age, train number and passenger name. It remains the same even when any further changes are effected with regard to the reservation details.

The Indian Railway Ticketing System retains the Passenger Name Record number in its database.

All queries regarding seat availability and PNR status are accessed via the computerized reservation system. The public can access the database between 08:00 hrs IST and 20:00 hrs IST on weekdays and 0800 hrs IST to 1400 hrs IST on Sundays.

You can check PNR status of any reservations you make for all zones including the South Central, Central, Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern Railways.

Checking PNR Status with Mobile Phone

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation or IRCTC allows passengers to check the PNR status of the railway reservations they have made using landline or mobile phones.
You can check the PNR status via SMS. This method has been introduced by the Indian Railways to simplify methods of checking via mobile phones. You can check the PNR status of your reservation or trains by sending a text message to 57886. You can get any information that you require using this method regarding train time table, train status, train fare, seat availability, train schedule and train information.

For residents in Mumbai and Delhi the number 139 can be used as well. It enables the users to get the train ticket and train status right away.

Conclusion

Travelling in India has become very convenient. The rail transport system has evolved to become one of the most efficient in the world. The use of the PNR number in order to follow up on the reservation status of the ticket has made travelling a comfortable experience.